Dental assistants are covered by the same award but in the Support Services stream, on much lower rates — see the dental assistant page.
Which award covers dental hygienists
Dental hygienists employed by private dental practices, dental groups and other national-system health employers are covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 [MA000027], which lists Dental Hygienist among its health professionals (Schedule B).
Health professionals are graded from level 1 to level 4. Level 1 is the entry level for new graduates: a diploma-level qualification starts at pay point 1, a three-year degree at pay point 2 and a four-year degree at pay point 3. Full-time employees then move up one pay point each year until pay point 6.
Level 2 is a hygienist who works independently on routine matters; level 3 is experienced and handles novel or complex work; level 4 carries senior or management responsibility (Schedule A.2).
Dental hygienists in public dental services are paid under state awards or enterprise agreements, and a hygienist working as a contractor on a percentage of billings has no award minimum.
Read the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 [MA000027] on the Fair Work Commission’s site (consolidated to 1 July 2026).
Dental Hygienist award pay rates 2026–27
These rates apply from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026. Part-time employees are paid the same hourly rates for the hours they work.
Health professional level 1 — graduates and early career
Clause 17.2. New graduates enter at the pay point matching their qualification and move up one pay point a year (full-time) or every 1,824 hours (part-time and casual) until pay point 6. Casual rates are Schedule C.2.3 exactly.
| Classification | Hourly | Weekly (38 hrs) | Annual | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 pay point 1Diploma (UG 2) qualification | $30.89 | $1,174.00 | $61,048 | $38.61 |
| Level 1 pay point 23-year degree entry | $32.09 | $1,219.50 | $63,414 | $40.11 |
| Level 1 pay point 34-year degree entry | $33.51 | $1,273.40 | $66,217 | $41.89 |
| Level 1 pay point 4Masters degree entry | $34.66 | $1,317.20 | $68,494 | $43.33 |
| Level 1 pay point 5PhD entry | $37.76 | $1,435.00 | $74,620 | $47.20 |
| Level 1 pay point 6 | $39.10 | $1,485.90 | $77,267 | $48.88 |
Annual is the weekly rate × 52, before tax and before superannuation. Casual hourly includes the 25% casual loading.
Health professional levels 2 to 4 — experienced, senior and management
Clauses 17.3 to 17.5. Level 2 works independently on routine matters; level 3 is experienced and handles novel or complex work; level 4 carries senior or management responsibility (Schedule A.2). Casual rates are Schedule C.2.3 exactly.
| Classification | Hourly | Weekly (38 hrs) | Annual | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 2 pay point 1 | $39.31 | $1,493.90 | $77,683 | $49.14 |
| Level 2 pay point 2 | $40.74 | $1,548.30 | $80,512 | $50.93 |
| Level 2 pay point 3 | $42.30 | $1,607.40 | $83,585 | $52.88 |
| Level 2 pay point 4 | $43.98 | $1,671.40 | $86,913 | $54.98 |
| Level 3 pay point 1 | $45.89 | $1,743.90 | $90,683 | $57.36 |
| Level 3 pay point 2 | $47.18 | $1,792.80 | $93,226 | $58.98 |
| Level 3 pay point 3 | $48.19 | $1,831.30 | $95,228 | $60.24 |
| Level 3 pay point 4 | $50.33 | $1,912.60 | $99,455 | $62.91 |
| Level 3 pay point 5 | $52.19 | $1,983.20 | $103,126 | $65.24 |
| Level 4 pay point 1 | $55.57 | $2,111.60 | $109,803 | $69.46 |
| Level 4 pay point 2 | $59.30 | $2,253.30 | $117,172 | $74.13 |
| Level 4 pay point 3 | $64.48 | $2,450.40 | $127,421 | $80.60 |
| Level 4 pay point 4 | $71.19 | $2,705.10 | $140,665 | $88.99 |
Annual is the weekly rate × 52, before tax and before superannuation. Casual hourly includes the 25% casual loading.
Dental Hygienist penalty rates and overtime
| When you work | Full-time / part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday or Sunday (midnight Friday to midnight Sunday) | 150% | 175% |
| Shiftwork (starts 6 pm–6 am or finishes 6 pm–8 am) | 115% | 140% |
| Public holiday | 250% | 275% |
Percentages of the minimum hourly rate (cl 26 and Schedule C.2). A casual's weekend and shiftwork rates replace the 25% loading rather than adding to it (cl 26.1(b), 26.3(b)), and the shift penalty does not apply on weekends or public holidays where those rates are paid instead (cl 26.3(c)).
Overtime
- Full-time and part-time: 150% for the first 2 hours Monday to Saturday, then 200%; Sunday 200%; public holiday 250% (cl 25.2).
- Casual: 187.5% for the first 2 hours Monday to Saturday, then 250%; Sunday 250%; public holiday 312.5% (cl 25.3).
- Overtime is triggered by work beyond ordinary hours or beyond 10 hours in a shift (cl 25.1), and replaces rather than adds to weekend and shift penalties.
Work out a shift with penalties or overtime using the overtime pay calculator.
Allowances
| Allowance | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| On-call allowance (Monday–Saturday) | $26.34 per 24 hours | When you are required to be on call (cl 23.2(d)(i)). |
| On-call allowance (Sunday or public holiday) | $52.56 per 24 hours | Cl 23.2(d)(ii). |
Dental Hygienist pay after tax
On the Level 1 pay point 2 rate of $1,219.50 a week, a full-time dental hygienist earns $63,414 a year before tax.
| Gross annual pay | $63,414 |
|---|---|
| Income tax (after LITO) | −$9,495 |
| Medicare levy | −$1,268 |
| Take-home per year | $52,651 |
| Take-home per week | $1,013 |
2026–27 resident tax rates with the low income tax offset and the 2% Medicare levy; no HECS-HELP repayment and no Medicare levy surcharge. Superannuation is paid on top by your employer. For the full breakdown see take-home pay on $65,000 (the nearest step to $63,414), or put in your own hours with the weekly pay calculator.
What dental hygienists actually earn
Jobs and Skills Australia puts median full-time earnings for Dental Hygienists, Technicians and Therapists (ANZSCO 4112) at $2,210 a week ($55 an hour), against $1,852 a week for all occupations.
Median weekly pay of full-time, non-managerial adult employees before tax and salary sacrifice, from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) as published by Jobs and Skills Australia. It reflects what employers actually pay, including people on enterprise agreements or above-award salaries, so it is a market figure, not a legal minimum.
What this page does not show
- State public hospital and health service pay scales, which are set by state awards and enterprise agreements, not this award.
- Rates under enterprise agreements, which replace the award for employers that have one.
- Annualised salary arrangements under clause 22, available by written agreement from level 2 up.
Dental Hygienist pay questions
Pay rates for other jobs
How this page is sourced▼
Every minimum rate was read from the Fair Work Commission's consolidated text of the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, consolidated to 1 July 2026, on 23 September 2026. Casual rates are the award's own published figures wherever it publishes them. Nothing is estimated.
The median comes from Jobs and Skills Australia’s occupation profile and is a market figure, not an entitlement. Take-home figures use the same tax engine as the rest of this site. Award rates change every 1 July, so re-check after the next Annual Wage Review.
Sources & References
- 1
- 2Pay guides for modern awards— Fair Work Ombudsman
- 3Annual Wage Review 2025–26 decision [2026] FWCFB 3500— Fair Work Commission
- 4
Last verified: 23 September 2026. Our content is based on the latest information from official Australian government sources.
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AuthorFounder & Senior Bookkeeper
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